Alternative Fuels
In this episode of EnergyTomorrow Radio, biofuels and the related impact on the economy and other issues, such as fuel efficiency, are discussed.
Alternative Fuels Podcast
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EnergyTomorrow Radio is a podcast series that features energy industry experts speaking on hot button energy issues.
Ethanol Fact Sheet
Ethanol is an alcohol product made principally from corn and can be used as an automotive fuel. The U.S. is the largest producer of fuel ethanol in the world and about 20% of the nation’s corn crop goes to produce fuel ethanol. Size: 35 KB | Date: July 24, 2007 |License: Free
Backgrounder of Flexible Fuel Vehicles and E85
While most cars and light trucks in the United States can run on gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol, only flexible-fuel vehicles are designed to operate on blends of gasoline containing up to 85% ethanol.
Size: 223 KB | Date: July 24, 2007 | License: Free
Using E-10 to Meet the Renewable Fuel Standard
Ethanol is an important portion of the nation’s gasoline pool and can be used in blends up to 10% in all vehicles. Under the terms of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, gasoline producers will continue to increase the amount of renewables. By 2012, at least 7.5 billion gallons of biofuels per year will be used. Flexibility in the uniform national RFS plan enacted in 2005 will maximize ethanol’s integration into the nation’s gasoline pool.
Size: 126 KB | Date: July 5, 2007 | License: Free
Standards for Biofuels Infrastructure
Understanding Biofuels Standards -- Standards developing organizations created the flash file below as a depiction of a high-level distribution chain and provides an example of the existing standards and research being undertaken that are used to move ethanol and biodiesel fuels. 
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644 KB | Date: July 27, 2007 | License: Free
Winners and Losers of Increased Renewable Fuel Mandates: Agricultural Producers and U.S. Consumers
This study was produced at the request of API to assess the impact of increased renewable fuel (RF) mandate levels on agricultural producers, agricultural commodity markets, and U.S. consumers.
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Size: 300 KB | Date: June 2007 | License: Free
Propane Supply and Demand
In addition to the long-held popularity of propane as a portable fuel source, firing up backyard barbecues and camp stoves, 4.5 million American homes rely on propane as their primary heating fuel.
Emerging Energy Technology
To help meet projected U.S. energy demand growth of 34% in the next two decades and to diversify the U.S. energy portfolio, U.S. oil and gas companies invested $98 billion from 2000 through 2005 on emerging energy technologies in the North American market. This expenditure is 73% of the estimated total of $135 billion spent by U.S. companies and the Federal government. Of the industry investments, $86 billion (or 88% of the $98 billion total) were directed toward frontier hydrocarbons. The ability of major oil companies to upgrade inferior grades of oil (tar and oil sands, heavy oil) into refinery feedstock, and to turn waste and residue hydrocarbons (gasification including hydrogen production) into high-value products, is a natural extension of the industry’s expertise.
Fuel Choices for Advanced Vehicles
Read about advancements in the internal combustion engine, cleaner-burning and alternative fuels, improved emissions control devices, and new powertrain technologies such as hybrids. Fuel Choices for Advanced Vehicles covers past successes and the progress and potential of future fuels and vehicles, and offers dialog on evolving technologies such as hydrogen-powered fuel cells.
Size: 2.7 MB | Date: October 10, 2006 | License: Free
Backgrounder on Renewable Fuels for Diesel Engines
Rising energy prices, increasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and concern about environmental impacts associated with transportation has heightened public interest in alternative fuels, including renewable fuels in recent years. This paper provides a brief overview of issues relating to the production and use of renewable fuels derived from biomass resources for use in diesel engines.
Size: 120 KB | Date: June 2006 | License: Free
Is E85 a Viable Fuel With the Current Fuel Infrastructure and the Current Vehicle Fleet?
E85 requires specially built “flexible fuel vehicles” (FFVs) which currently comprise only 3 percent of the existing vehicle fleet (EIA estimates that FFV penetration will not rise above 10 percent until sometime after 2030).
Size: 12 KB | Date: June 14, 2006 | License: Free
Is the Brazil Ethanol Experience a Model for the United States?
The U.S. is producing slightly more ethanol than Brazil, however gasoline demand in Brazil is only 4.28 billion gallons compared to the U.S. where gasoline demand is 140 billion gallons (23 times that in Brazil). The U.S. can't build an ethanol market based on sugarcane. Nor can the U.S. ramp up corn-based ethanol in the same way Brazil increased ethanol use with sugarcane. Brazil energy independence is due to increased crude oil production - not ethanol.
Size: 12 KB | Date: May 26, 2006 | License: Free
How Did Brazil Achieve Energy Independence?
How did Brazil achieve energy independence? Not with ethanol but by increasing crude oil production. Brazil’s increase in crude oil production over the 2004 to 2005 period was 9 times larger than its increase in ethanol production over the same time period, and was 4 times larger over the 2000 to 2005 period. Clearly, it has been Brazil’s increased crude production, particularly over the 2004 to 2005 time frame, which has been the dominant factor in pushing Brazil towards energy independence.
Size: 20 KB | Date: May 10, 2006 |License: Free
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